Pluggable cable connector

Abstract

A pair manager for use in securing a twin-axial cable to a printed circuit board is described. The pair manager comprises a generally block-shaped portion containing a pair of channels. The channels extend from the front face to the rear face of the block-shaped portion. An integral flange and a pair of integral fingers extend perpendicularly from the front face of the block-shaped portion. The flange extends generally from the center of the front face and the fingers extend from opposite edges of the front face. The fingers and flange function as a partial shield cavity around each pair of conductors. This design helps to maintain better impedance matching when connecting twin-axial cables to a printed circuit board.

1. A pair manager for use in securing twin-axial cables to a printed circuit board comprising:
 a generally block-shaped portion, the block-shaped portion containing a pair of channels, the channels extending from a front face of the block-shaped portion to a rear face; 
 a top flange integral with the block-shaped portion, the top flange extending perpendicularly from the front face proximate to a center of the front face; 
 first and second fingers integral with the block-shaped portion, the first and second fingers extending perpendicularly from the front face of the block-shaped portion, the first finger being proximate to a first edge of the front face and the second finger being proximate to a second edge of the front face, the first edge being opposite the second edge, the top flange, first finger, and second finger arranged such that a partial shield cavity is formed forward the front face where the cavities exit the front face. 
 
     
     
       2. The pair manager of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of bosses integral to the block-shaped portion attached to a top face proximate to the front face and generally aligned with the channels. 
     
     
       3. The pair manager of  claim 1  wherein the cavities contain a rib. 
     
     
       4. The pair manager of  claim 1  wherein the pair manager comprises a top half and a bottom half, wherein the top flange, first finger, and second finger are integral with the top half. 
     
     
       5. The pair manager of  claim 1  wherein the top flange and fingers generally decrease in height with increasing distance from the front face. 
     
     
       6. The pair manager of  claim 5  wherein the top flange and fingers generally decrease with thickness with increasing distance from the front face. 
     
     
       7. The pair manager of  claim 6  wherein the block-shaped portion, top flange, and fingers define a pair of cavities, the cavities having a first width dimension, a second width dimension, and a height dimension, the height dimension being proximate to the front face and parallel to the first edge of the front face, the first width dimension being parallel to the bottom edge of the front face and between ends of the top flange and fingers distal from the front face, and the second width dimension being parallel to the bottom edge of the front face between the top flange and fingers proximate to the front face, wherein the cavities have a first width of 4.4 millimeters, a second width of 3.5 millimeters, and a height of 1.3 millimeters. 
     
     
       8. The pair manager of  claim 1  further comprising a bottom flange integral with the block-shaped portion and extending from the front face such that a printed circuit board can be secured between the top flange and the bottom flange. 
     
     
       9. The pair manager of  claim 8  wherein the bottom flange extends perpendicularly from the front face along a bottom edge of the front face. 
     
     
       10. The pair manager of  claim 9  wherein the bottom flange extends from substantially the entire length of the bottom edge. 
     
     
       11. The pair manager of  claim 10  further wherein the bottom flange further comprises a pair of slots, the slots being generally aligned with the channels.